G'burg man charged with killing wife

After shooting his wife in the head and chest late Thursday night, police say, an Adams County man walked into the state police barracks in Gettysburg, where he turned over two spent shotgun shells and told a trooper, "I just killed my wife."

Todd Michael Rynard, 39, is behind bars in Adams County prison without bail.

He has been charged with murdering his 44-year-old wife, Gwen, who was found dead inside the 289 Hood Drive home they shared, police said.

The residence is located in the Lake Heritage housing development, a gated community in Mount Joy Township.

An autopsy will be performed on Gwen Rynard today.

After his confession early Friday morning, Rynard told investigators he has been experiencing problems with his wife and his stepdaughter, according to court documents.

He said he became angry with his wife, police said.

"I want a little respect É she was running her mouth. I got angry É I got the shotgun and I shot her once in the head. She fell to the floor and I shot her once in the chest," Rynard told police, according to court documents.

About 11:50 p.m. Thursday, Rynard allegedly retrieved a .12-gauge shotgun and two shells.

He told police he loaded the shotgun with one shell, and shot his wife in the head while she was brushing her hair in the bathroom, court documents state.

After she fell to the floor, he then loaded another shell into the shotgun and shot her in the chest, police said.

The first shot was fired within 15 feet; the second at a much closer range, District Attorney Shawn Wagner said.

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About 20 minutes after the shooting, Rynard drove himself to the police barracks and told a trooper that he wished to show him something.

When the trooper said he could not come out to the lobby, Rynard produced the spent shells, his keys and his driver's license, police said.

He then allegedly told the trooper he shot his wife at their home.

That's when police responded to the residence and found Gwen Rynard's body.

Rynard allegedly told police that after the shooting he changed his clothes before driving himself to the station.

In the station's parking lot, police found the shotgun lying across the passenger seat of Rynard's Ford F250 pickup truck.

Wagner said the Rynards had been married for about seven months.

"In Adams County we have no history of any (protection from abuse orders) or prior police involvement with Mr. Rynard," he said.

Wagner wouldn't comment on whether Rynard's stepdaughter lived in the same home, but said no one else was inside the residence at the time of the shooting.

Rynard is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Daniel Bowman.

He is charged with criminal homicide and possessing instruments of crime. Rynard faces life in prison without parole, Wagner said.

The fatal shooting is the second homicide in Adams County this year.

The first occurred July 30, when 20-year-old Justin Watson, of Taneytown, Md., was stabbed in the underarm during a fight at the Western Inn Motel in Cumberland Township, police said.

Adams claimed he stabbed Watson in self defense after Watson tried to hit him with a large branch, according to testimony at a preliminary hearing. Adams is scheduled for arraignment next month in Adams County court.

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